The defining moment of Paul Konerko's career — at least in the eyes of many of his former teammates — was a dramatic grand slam in the 2005 World Series that helped propel the White Sox to victory in Game 2 and subsequently their first championship in 88 years.

With the Sox trailing 4-2 with two...

The defining moment of Paul Konerko's career — at least in the eyes of many of his former teammates — was a dramatic grand slam in the 2005 World Series that helped propel the White Sox to victory in Game 2 and subsequently their first championship in 88 years.

With the Sox trailing 4-2 with two...

(Chris Kuc)

The Sox blow the lead, but Scott Podsednik's walk-off home run off closer Brad Lidge — the 14th walk-off homer in Series history — gives them a dramatic 7-6 victory and a 2-0 lead.

They go on to sweep the Astros for their first World Series championship in 88 years.

2: The ALCS homers

Oct. 14 and 15, 2005: With the ALCS against the Angels tied after two games at the Cell, Konerko cranks a two-run homer off John Lackey in a three-run first inning, silencing the crowd early in a 5-2 victory.

The results, statistically speaking, weren't so great. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. But in a virtually meaningless game for...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — White Sox captain Paul Konerko took his fractured left hand out for a test run Friday night in a 4-3 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.

The results, statistically speaking, weren't so great. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. But in a virtually meaningless game for...

(Colleen Kane)

"When you're on the road in front of a big crowd that's rowdy and into it, it's always good to get on the board even with a run in the first," Konerko says. "Home runs happen when you least expect it."

Says center fielder Aaron Rowand: "Paulie's a big-game player and gets paid big bucks to get hits like that."

Konerko does it again in Game 4, hitting a three-run, first-inning home run off Ervin Santana to spark an 8-2 triumph that puts the Sox one game from clinching their first pennant since 1959. Konerko warns everyone not to get ahead of themselves.

"If anything, play as if we're one game down, if we can talk ourselves into it," he says. "If you start thinking about all the good things that happen in a series, with the history that's going to be talked about, that's when you can be caught flat-footed."

The Sox win in five games, and Konerko is voted the ALCS MVP.

3: The handoff

Oct. 28, 2005: During the rally after the victory parade celebrating the 2005 champs, Konerko pulls a ball from the pocket of his White Sox jacket.

It's the final out from Game 4, the one that capped the dream season.

"Everybody kept asking the last couple of days what I did with that last ball, that last out," Konerko says. "Well, it's going to this man right here because he earned it."

Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf gets emotional as Konerko hands him the ball, and the massive crowd cheers.

"I never imagined it could be so good," Reinsdorf says. "This is absolutely the most fantastic day in my entire life. … Getting this ball from Paul Konerko is the most emotional moment of my entire life."

4: The three-homer night

July 7, 2009: In a 10-6 triumph over the Indians at the Cell, Konerko hits a career-high three home runs and knocks in seven runs to give Mark Buehrle his ninth victory. The three-homer night is the first in a home game for a Sox player since Harold Baines did likewise at old Comiskey Park in 1982.

"That's kind of cool," Konerko says. "But the way the balls jump here in the summer, it probably won't be too long before somebody knocks that one off."

5: The 400th home run

April 25, 2012: Konerko hits his milestone home run off the A'sGrant Balfour in the ninth inning in Oakland, tying the game 2-2, and becomes the 48th player to reach that plateau.

"It really doesn't matter how many home runs I hit,'' Konerko says. "In my mind, I'm not a better hitter, a better home run guy, than (the players I've passed on the all-time list).''

6: The crowning

Feb. 26, 2000: Konerko is nicknamed "the King" for good reason. His reign in the Sox clubhouse unofficially begins on this date after manager Jerry Manuel and slugger Frank Thomas engage in a shouting match during spring training.

In only his second season with the Sox, Konerko says Thomas will be treated like anyone else in the clubhouse.

"This year we have more guys with one common goal," Konerko says. "Anybody who's not going to be with us for that common goal is going to hear about it. I don't care who it is. That's basically what I'm saying. Last year was like, 'Everybody's doing their own thing.' This year everybody has a goal in mind, the same one. If anyone is going to get off track, they're going to get an earful. Look at winning teams — that's how it is. Not that I'd give Frank an earful. He'd beat me up."

May 18, 2012: On a day at Wrigley Field that will be remembered as Kerry Wood's final game, Konerko leaves in the third inning after a Jeff Samardzija pitch hits him above his left eye.

"There are a lot of superstars who put up big numbers, get paid a lot of money, and Paulie's one of those guys who is a superstar and does it the right way," Samardzija says. "There are not too many of those guys out there. He's not about show or about himself. Paulie's a good guy, and that ball got away and unfortunately hit him up high. If I could take it back, I would. The only thing that makes me OK about it is he's a tough guy. I hope he'll be all right."

Konerko misses only two games with lacerations above the eye.

"It's all back, other than what you see," Konerko says of his black eye. "There's a little soreness in it, but I can see out of it. So, you know, it's good to go."

8: The inside-the-parker

April 11, 2000: Konerko isn't exactly a speedster, with nine career stolen bases to his credit.

But in an otherwise forgettable victory over the Devil Rays at Tropicana Field, Konerko lines an Esteban Yan pitch off the center-field wall and ignores third base coach "Wavin' Wally" Johnson, chugging around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

"It was kind of a blur," Konerko says, before adding: "Well, I wasn't a blur. But it happened quickly. … Once I hit second, I planned on scoring. If I'd waited to see what (Johnson) was going to do, I'd probably have problems. I kept running."

It's the Sox's first such homer since equally slow-footed Ron Karkovice pulled off an inside-the-park grand slam at the Metrodome on Aug. 30, 1990.

Konerko winds up with a four-hit, four-RBI night, and also scores from second on an infield hit when the pitcher doesn't pay attention to him at third.

"Everybody keeps saying I'm the slowest guy on the team," Konerko says with a grin. "But time and time again I keep proving (I have) speed. Looking at the inside-the-parkers, scoring from second on (Chris Singleton's) hit, four triples last year. … The numbers say otherwise."

Konerko can't speak after the game, but manager Ozzie Guillen says he "stepped it up like a man and played the game."

Pavano sends an apologetic note to Konerko, who absolves the pitcher of any blame.

10: The comeback

Sept. 16, 2008: After missing five games because of a sprained right knee believed at first to be season-ending, Konerko returns to the lineup wearing a knee brace and doubles in a three-run fourth-inning rally in a 6-2 victory over the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

"Thoughts cross your mind about being ready for spring training, let alone this year," Konerko says of the injury. "It was very scary in my mind when I did it."

The victory puts the first-place Sox 21/2 games ahead of the Twins. They fall behind again before tying for the division lead on the final day and winning Game 163 1-0 at the Cell on a Jim Thome home run.